Tile.



N. 738,627. A V PATENTBD snm. s, 1903. s. T. PLAYPORD. TILE.

l APPLICATION FILED DBLC. 16;l 1902.

UNiTnn STATES Patented September, 1903;

PATENT Trice.

TILE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '738.627, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed December 16,1902. Serial No. 135,457. (No model.) l

n To all whom it may concern.-

l'e it known that'I, S'rERLiNe T. ILAYivoiiD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Cassopolis, in the coiiuty et Cass and State of lvlichigan,` haveinvented a new and useful Tile, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in tiles or blocks formed of cement or other materials.

The principal object ot' the invention is to providcan improved building-tile principally intended for-roofing purposes and which may be used 4to advantage for sidings and othei' purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide atile of such eoiistructionhas to permit of the sagging or settling of a roof or other `surface on which it may be` employed without danger of breaking the tiling or destroying or impairing the joints between the ad jacent tiles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction of tile which will permit of the formation of au elastic but-waterproof joint and in which the joining edges of the tiles arene arranged as to provide torsecurely holding the joining materialn place.

A still fui'ther object of the invention is to provide the tile with aV fastening means so arranged that the position ot' they fastening means may be altered to some extent in accordance with the character of the surface to which the tile is to be secured.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction of tile which will permit of the ready removal of any one tile with` out danger of destroying the adjacent tiles in the event of breakage, and, further, to provide an improved anchoring or secu ring means for connecting adjacent tiles ttLeach other.

YVith these and other objects in View the invention consists ofthe novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described,il1 nsti-ated in the accompanying draw ings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that vari ous changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of 'the structure maybe made without departing from the spirit or sacriticing anyof the advantages of the in volition.

in the accompanyingdrawings, AFigure l is a perspective View of a tile constructed in acl o l n n a eoidance with the invention. Fig. 2 isa simi.-

lar View of the rear or under face ofsaid tile.

Fig. 3 is a det-ail sectional View showing a number of tiles lconstructedand arranged in accordance with the invention. similar view showing the anchoring means cent tiles to each other.

illustrating more clearly the construction of the joints and securing means.

Similarnunieralsofreference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures ot' the drawings.

The tiles forming the subject of the present invention are termed of cement oi any j suitable composition of material into whiehfzi n cement enters as an ingredient or binding agent, the tiles being ofauy desired contour- 'l either square, oblong, hexagonal, or o t'` other form, as may be requircd-aud their outeiy faces maybe either plain or ornameuted in any desired manner. 'l'he tiles are preferably provided at a central point with a sheet of wire gauze or netting 1, which material adds to the strength of the tile and permits of Figrl is ad Vwhich may be employed for connecting adja- `6o Figs. o'and 6 are detail sectional views, ou an enlarged scale, j

considerable reduction in its thickness with 8o out decrease in strength. r

The edge ot each tile is of the contour more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and (i, beiiiginclined inwardly from the lower edge, as indicated at 3, to a point near the upper surface ofthe tile, and thence being rounded or inclined, as indicated at i, in an opposite direction, so that between the edges ot' two adjacent tiles there is formed a tapering slot having its widest portion at a point below the outer or 9o upper surface ot the tile in order to insure the retention of the joining or binding `material. 'lhe lower or inner edges ofthe tiles are-preferably abutting, and after 4the tiles are in place the joint is calkod bythe intro- 9'5 duction of oaleum or similaimaterial, as indieated at 5, the material being introduced by calking-irous in the usual manner and terminating at a point below the outer surface of the tile. layer of asphalt lj or paint or other suitable preservative material, preferably of an elastic or seinielastic nature, is placed on top of the oakum, but without filling thc whole of To preserve the oakum, a roo the joint. On the top of the asphalt or other material is placed a layer ofcement or other binding agent, as indicated at 7, this binding agent being introduced between the curved convergent walls ofthe tileso that a wedge- Iike joint is formed, which will under all circumstances prevent the escape of such material.

In each tile, preferably at a point near each of the corners, is formed an opening 8 for the passage of a securing device, such as anali or screw, a nail being generally employed in practice. These openings are oblong on the face of the tile,'and the longer sides converge toward the inner face of the tile to form a tapering opening through which the nail may be driven, the length of the opening permitting the adj ust ment of the nail to such position as may be necessary in order to avoid cracks or obstructions to the passage ofthe nail. When the tiles are secured in position, theopenings are filled with cement or like material to assist in holding the nail in place and preserve the same from oxidation as well as to conceal the nail end, the cement'used being of a character similar to that forming the body of the'tile in order not te detract from the appearance of the surface, especially where the tiling is used to form an ornamental siding for a building.

In roofing it is not absolutely necessary that the'tiles be secured in place, but in general l practice it is advisable to provide means for als securing them to each other, and for this purpose the edge portions of the tiles are recessed, as indicated at 8, for the reception of bonding bars or anchors 9, which may be i formed of sections of wire or rods havingupwardly-beut end portions adapted to engage in the recesses of the tiles, and thus secure adjacent tiles to each other.

The construction is such as to permit considerable movement of the roof or other surface on which the tiles are placed Without danger of breaking/the tiles, the joining material being elastic and compressible, so that the surface may become uneven and irregular and still prevent the passage of water.

After the tiles are placed iu position the whole surface may otherwise tiles and render the joints waterproof. The construction is such as to readily permit the removal of a.broken or damaged tile Without interfering with the adjacent tiles, and a new tile maybe placed in position and calked more 'readily than in tiles having interengaging joints.

krHaving thus described the invention, what is claimed is l. A tile having its inner or rear surface of greater area than its outer surface so that the inner-portions of the edges of adjacent tiles may come into contact, the edges of the tile being recessed, and said recesses extending from the inner to thevouter surfaces of the tile and having their greatest depth at a point between the two faces of said tile.

2. A tile provided with an opening for the passage of a securing means, said opening being oblong in general contour and its longer walls converging toward lthe rear face of the tile to form engaging surfaces for the securing means.

3. A tile having bonding recesses in its be painted, cemented, or

vunder surface and provided with a plurality of tapering openings for the. reception of securing means, the edges of the tile being recessed for the reception of a joining or bonding material. i

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto alxed my signature in the presence ottwo witnesses.

STERLING T. PLAYFORD.

Witnesses:

FRANK M. JEROME, LOWELL ll. Gnovnn.

iinished in order to preserve the v 

